SC orders ATC to dispose off Shahzeb murder case in 7 days

Supreme Court of Pakistan has directed Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) to dispose off Shahzeb murder case in seven days and conduct its hearing on daily basis.

A three-member bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry was hearing the case n Friday. The court issued these orders while disposing off suo moto case of Shahzeb murder.

The chief justice expressed dissatisfaction on the performance of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and rejected its report in Shahzeb case. The bench also ordered the Director General of FIA to submit a reply within three days over a false report presented earlier in the court.

In its short order, the court remarked that Shahrukh Jatoi, the key accused in Shahzeb murder case, misled FIA, customs, immigration and ASF officials. However, only two persons who helped Shahrukh escape were arrested.

The chief justice said no one is VIP in the eyes of law. He said the security of FIA was very weak pointing out that if a poor person commits any crime, he is immediately arrested while the VIP escapes easily by befooling everyone.

FIA Director Mohammad Malik submitted before the court that PIA’s protocol staff was involved in the escape of Shahrukh. He said Sindh Police have obtained the CCTV footage and assured that those responsible for the escape would be arrested soon. He said several people cross the VIP lounge alon gwith one VIP.

Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry said that there is fire and bloodshed everywhere while the FIA was least perturbed. He remarked that you have spoken the truth but there is a question mark on your performance.

Justice Khilji Arif inquired as to what steps have been taken to check such illegal measures.

Director FIA responded that his department was introducing stop list at the airports and explained that if the accused escape from the Exit Control List, they could be apprehended through the stop list.

DIG Sindh said that there no footage about the escape of the accused in the CCTV footage at which Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed questioned whether Shahrukh reached the plane through helicopter.

Earlier, the court had remarked that the role of the FIA in providing the video footage was un-satisfactory, adding that there should be action against police and FIA officials involved in prime accused in the case, Sharukh Jatoi’s escape from the country.

Karachi police had submitted the file pertaining to Shahzdeb Khan’s murder at the beginning of Friday’s hearing in the Supreme Court.